Emerald Coast By Owner has expanded their direct booking platform amid an ongoing industry shift in the online travel agency industry.
-- Emerald Coast By Owner today announced the expansion of its direct-booking vacation rental platform to 59 cities across Florida, adding new property listings to its Gulf Coast marketplace. The platform connects property owners and travelers directly, bypassing the service fees charged by major online travel agencies.
For more information, visit https://www.emeraldcoastbyowner.com/florida
The announcement comes as platform fees on major OTA channels have become a growing concern for both owners and guests. Airbnb's guest service fee currently ranges from 14 to 16 percent per booking, while hosts pay an additional commission under most fee structures, according to Airbnb's published fee schedule. By booking directly through platforms like Emerald Coast By Owner, guests avoid those fees while communicating directly with property owners throughout the booking process.
"The Gulf Coast vacation rental market has real depth — there are thousands of exceptional properties here that never get the visibility they deserve on platforms built for a global audience. We built this platform around the idea that local ownership and direct relationships produce a better experience for everyone," said Joe Goder, CEO at Emerald Coast By Owner.
The direct-booking model is gaining traction nationally. According to a 2026 industry report by Lodgify, analyzed by PhocusWire, 70 percent of short-term rental operators now have a direct-booking website, and direct bookings generate stays that are 45.2 percent longer on average than OTA bookings, along with booking windows that are 51.3 percent longer.
The timing also reflects broader market growth. According to Grand View Research, the global short-term vacation rental market was valued at $149.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $165.7 billion in 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.8 percent through 2033. North America accounts for 34.6 percent of global market revenue.
Emerald Coast By Owner's expanded Florida listings cover Gulf Coast properties across key cities like Panama City Beach and Miramar Beach, spanning beachfront condos, single-family homes, and waterfront vacation properties.
About Emerald Coast By Owner
Emerald Coast By Owner is a Destin, FL-based direct-booking vacation rental platform serving the Florida Gulf Coast. The platform lists properties across 59 Florida cities and connects property owners directly with travelers, with no OTA service fees charged to guests.
Read more at https://www.emeraldcoastbyowner.com
Contact Info:
Name: Joe Godar
Email: Send Email
Organization: Emerald Coast By Owner
Address: Destin , Destin, Florida 32541, United States
Website: https://www.emeraldcoastbyowner.com
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89201162
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